Astros sign Cheito to minor lg. deal

[dirty steve]

dont think its been mentioned yet.
"Jose Cruz Jr., the son of former Astros left fielder and current first base coach Jose Cruz, was signed to a minor league contract by the Astros today with an invitation to major league spring training."
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/5336473.html

[Holly]

Was his other son ever located? I know he was reported missing a few years ago... (/lazy)

[DVauthrin]

I like this, he was one of the names I mentioned that could fill the RH power bat off the bench.   Not to mention he can cover all 3 OF spots, and switch hits.

[Jacksonian]

dont think its been mentioned yet.
"Jose Cruz Jr., the son of former Astros left fielder and current first base coach Jose Cruz, was signed to a minor league contract by the Astros today with an invitation to major league spring training."
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/5336473.html

More competition for the 5th outfield spot?  Or, the move before dealing Scott (ala signing Ramirez and then dealing Anderson)?

[Curly]

For those who where at the Dome for #25, how wierd is it going to be when/if they announce him as Joseee Cruuuuuuuuuz!  You know the crowd would/will be all over it.  Be fun for the kiddos too.  Wonder if he will wear the stirrups low or high?  Either way it will be nice to see something besides those hidious ankle low baggies the players are wearing now.  Baseball pants should extend no lower than the upper half of the calf.  IMHOOC

[Arky Vaughan]

I like this, he was one of the names I mentioned that could fill the RH power bat off the bench.   Not to mention he can cover all 3 OF spots, and switch hits.

Over the last two seasons he has 11 homers in 479 at-bats.

[Jacksonian]

Over the last two seasons he has 11 homers in 479 at-bats.

Total XBH in that span?

[Arky Vaughan]

Total XBH in that span?

28 doubles, 4 triples, 11 homers. .378 slugging. Although the low slugging is partly a byproduct of the .234 batting average.

[Jacksonian]

28 doubles, 4 triples, 11 homers. .378 slugging. Although the low slugging is partly a byproduct of the .234 batting average.

Looks pretty good for a 4th or 5th outfielder who can play all 3 positions.

[Gizzmonic]

How is he as a pinch hitter?

28 doubles, 4 triples, 11 homers. .378 slugging. Although the low slugging is partly a byproduct of the .234 batting average.

[BUWebguy]

How is he as a pinch hitter?

If I'm reading baseballreference.com's splits right:
76 PA, .182 BA (12/66), .289 OBP, .379 SLG -- 1 2B, 4 HR, 5 RBI, 10 BB, 19 K

A good chunk of that came last year:
28 PA, .125 BA (3/24), .250 OBP, .250 SLG -- 1 HR, 1 RBI, 4 BB, 7 K

[DVauthrin]

Over the last two seasons he has 11 homers in 479 at-bats.

homers aren't the only form of power, plus more specifically(I am only talking about using him in either spot starts vs LHP or off the bench vs LHP):

From 2005-2007 he has 233 at bats vs lefties and put up:

283   .387   .468

He had 66 hits, 28 of which were for extra bases, 20 doubles, 7 homers, 1 triple.   that's 42% of his hits vs lefties that went for extra bases.

These numbers include his poor 2007 vs lefties of .221   .323   .372.

But if we go back to 04 here was his line vs LHP:  267   .366   .461   
03:  301   .403   .515   
02:  .225   .275   .345   .620

So he had 2 bad years, in 2002 and last year vs lefties, but he had 4 straight very solid years in between.   He struggles vs righties, and if last yr was an aberration not a sign of declining skills, he should be fine as a right handed power option vs lefties on the bench.

[HudsonHawk]

 He struggles vs righties, and if last yr was an aberration not a sign of declining skills, he should be fine as a right handed power option vs lefties on the bench.

His skills are declining, I can assure you of that.  If he can be useful, by all means keep him around.  But he's not an up and comer or even in his prime.  He's a 34-year old journeyman roster filler.

[Trey]

His skills are declining, I can assure you of that.  If he can be useful, by all means keep him around.  But he's not an up and comer or even in his prime.  He's a 34-year old journeyman roster filler.

Wow.  That's odd to read.  Not that it isn't true, but he left Rice the year before I got there.  I met him when he came back to visit a mutual friend.  It's odd to have someone who could have been in college with you referred to as "34 year old journeyman roster filler".  Although, I guess it makes mathematical sense, as 34 - 3 = my age.  It's just odd to read it.

I have to accept getting older one of these days.

[HudsonHawk]

Wow.  That's odd to read.  Not that it isn't true, but he left Rice the year before I got there.  I met him when he came back to visit a mutual friend.  It's odd to have someone who could have been in college with you referred to as "34 year old journeyman roster filler".  Although, I guess it makes mathematical sense, as 34 - 3 = my age.  It's just odd to read it.

I have to accept getting older one of these days.

You think that's bad?  The other day, my doctor said to me "you're not that much older than me."  My doctor. 

[DVauthrin]

His skills are declining, I can assure you of that.  If he can be useful, by all means keep him around.  But he's not an up and comer or even in his prime.  He's a 34-year old journeyman roster filler.

I'm sure they are, but I think the question is, can he still hit LHP like he did in 2003-2006, or is 2007 the norm?   The 03-06 guy is exactly what they need out of him, the 07 guy doesn't make the team past spring training.

[HudsonHawk]

I'm sure they are, but I think the question is, can he still hit LHP like he did in 2003-2006, or is 2007 the norm?   The 03-06 guy is exactly what they need out of him, the 07 guy doesn't make the team past spring training.

Well, I think he can certainly bounce back from a pretty bad 2007, but he's on the downhill side of his career.  I don't think it's reasonable to expect him to be as good as he was 5 years ago.  Again, I'm not saying there's not a place for him necessarily, but you were wondering if his skills might be deteriorating...I think it's pretty obvious that they are.

[DVauthrin]

Well, I think he can certainly bounce back from a pretty bad 2007, but he's on the downhill side of his career.  I don't think it's reasonable to expect him to be as good as he was 5 years ago.  Again, I'm not saying there's not a place for him necessarily, but you were wondering if his skills might be deteriorating...I think it's pretty obvious that they are.

Thanks for the report.   I just hadn't seen him play recently so I had no knowledge of his current bat speed, etc.
I'm not expecting him to turn back the clock but even in 2005/2006 he put up these lines vs lefties in a combined 147 at bats between both seasons:

.325   .426   .525
.313   .420   .522

If he can find even a happy medium between those lines and his bad 07 he should make the team, if he struggles in the spring, he gets cut.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

Well, I think he can certainly bounce back from a pretty bad 2007, but he's on the downhill side of his career.  I don't think it's reasonable to expect him to be as good as he was 5 years ago.  Again, I'm not saying there's not a place for him necessarily, but you were wondering if his skills might be deteriorating...I think it's pretty obvious that they are.

I couldn't find a link, as I tried to post it when the signing was first reported here, but I recall reading that his decline has been due, in part, to lingering injuries and poor work-ethic.  If there's any truth in that, playing for his father should help address the "work ethic" issue. 

As far as the injuries go, I don't think he's been the same player since he injured his ankle.  And if I recall, shortly after that, he started having knee and back problems.  But he is 33 with 11 yrs in the majors so it's possible he's just breaking down. 

[hillbillyken]

Im not sure if quoting Shakspere here will get me run but, " a rose by any other name would still be...a poor choice for a 4th /5th outfeilder" Face it if this guys name wasn't Joe Cruz the TZ would be rippin it as a poor signing. His numbers are burkeesque?

[Andyzipp]

Im not sure if quoting Shakspere here will get me run but, " a rose by any other name would still be...a poor choice for a 4th /5th outfeilder" Face it if this guys name wasn't Joe Cruz the TZ would be rippin it as a poor signing. His numbers are burkeesque?

We're starting the annual Bitchin' About the 25th Man on the Roster(tm) before the roster has even been set. 

I was telling someone just the other day how the holidays have kind of snuck up on me this year.

If Cruz makes the roster, it's as a 5th outfielder and pinch hitter.  Who gives a shit?

[Jacksonian]

We're starting the annual Bitchin' About the 25th Man on the Roster(tm) before the roster has even been set. 

I was telling someone just the other day how the holidays have kind of snuck up on me this year.

If Cruz makes the roster, it's as a 5th outfielder and pinch hitter.  Who gives a shit?

Amen.

And he's not even the 5th outfielder.  He's not on the 40-man roster.  He's a minor leaguer who got invited to ST.  If he can't make the 25-man then it's no loss.

[VirtualBob]

Amen.

And he's not even the 5th outfielder.  He's not on the 40-man roster.  He's a minor leaguer who got invited to ST.  If he can't make the 25-man then it's no loss.

He could easily end up as the 4th outfielder at RR.

[Duman]

He is this years Hildago

[VirtualBob]

He is this years Hildago

More like this year's Tim Raines Jr.  (IMO)

[NeilT]

Im not sure if quoting Shakspere here will get me run but, " a rose by any other name would still be...a poor choice for a 4th /5th outfeilder" Face it if this guys name wasn't Joe Cruz the TZ would be rippin it as a poor signing. His numbers are burkeesque?

It's a minor league signing of a family friend.  No one's going to think it more than that.

[Astroholic]

  If there's any truth in that, playing for his father should help address the "work ethic" issue. 

Must be a different Cheo we are talking about.  The Cheo I saw would show up right before a game with a boom box on one shoulder and a six pack in hand. (NTTAWWT)  He could play, but I don't think work ethic and Cheo should be used in the same sentence.  Maybe he has changed as a coach.

[Mr. Happy]

It's a job in RR. Still wants to play. I see no room for him on our roster.

[David in Jackson]

Looks pretty good for a 4th or 5th outfielder who can play all 3 positions.

Looks like Hidalgo 07 / Atlantic League to me.